Weight signs multiyear deal to return to St. Louis

~ The Blues had traded the center to Carolina this past season.

ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Blues signed free agent center Doug Weight to a multiyear contract, the club announced Sunday.

"We are bringing back a player that loves the city of St. Louis and the Blues organization," Blues president John Davidson said in a news release Sunday. "He's a Stanley Cup winner and will be a key part of this team moving forward."

Weight, 35, is a four-time all-star and has played in 982 career NHL games, with 885 points.

He played with St. Louis from 2001 to 2006.

The Blues traded him to Carolina in January for draft picks. He had three goals and 13 assists in the first 23 games of Carolina's run to the title but missed the final two contests in the Stanley Cup finals after he separated his right shoulder in Game 5 against the Edmonton Oilers.

* Davidson also announced Sunday that coach Mike Kitchen will be back behind the bench for his second full season with the Blues.

"His work last season during a difficult time proved his strengths and abilities as a head coach," Davidson said.